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PIA News Service - Friday, May 6, 2011

DepEd-Caraga prepares schools for Brigada Eskwela

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga Regional Office headed by Regional Director Gloria Benigno readies school teachers, students and parents for the upcoming “Brigada Eskwela” also known as the National Schools Maintenance Week on May 23-28, 2011.

During the Agusan del Norte Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting with Gov. Erlpe John Amante, member-agencies, AFP and PNP, Education Program Supervisor Mr. Iglucito P. Duquesa of DepEd-Agusan del Norte Division revealed that their central office and field offices will hold a caravan on May 23 to launch the first day of ‘Brigada Eskwela’.

Duquesa also relayed that the nationwide activity of the government’s education department will begin at 6:00 a.m. with the route of the caravan to begin at the central office for participants based at the DepEd main office and the National Capital Region (NCR), and at the regional offices for participants from the field. The final stop of the caravan should be in a public school where an official kick-off ceremony will be held.

“As per DepEd memorandum signed by DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro, all DepEd employees are encouraged to join the ‘Brigada Eskwela’ activities by offering their skills or providing their support in-kind to public schools near their residence. Interested employees are given two days to do volunteer work on official time, provided that such work is approved by their head of office,” Duquesa added.

Brigada Eskwela is a school maintenance program that engages all education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort and resources in ensuring that public school facilities are set in time for the forthcoming school opening. (PIA-Caraga)

Surigao Mayor bares increase of tourist arrivals in Surigao City

by FEAbkilan

SURIGAO CITY, May 6 (PIA) – There’s a "remarkable increase" in the number of tourist arrivals who visited Surigao City last year according to City Mayor Ernesto Matugas during his first State of Local Governance Report on Thursday, May 5, 2011.

Matugas said a total of 145,739 tourists arrived in 2010, substantially higher by 27.48 percent from 114,324 in 2009.

“Foreign tourist arrivals posted a much higher increase of 31.21 percent,” said Matugas.

Matugas said the number of meetings and conferences also increased by 10.47 percent and 24.61 percent, respectively.

The significant growth according to the city mayor was driven by many factors such as the aggressive tourism marketing and promotion, the introduction of scuba diving as a new tourism product, and the resumption of regular flights to Manila and Cebu.

Matugas said the estimated income from tourism last year totaled more than P4.372 billion.

Matugas thanked the private sector for helping transform the city into a more tourist-friendly locality. “I am thankful that our major hotels like Tavern, Gateway and Almont have responded and undertaken the necessary improvements.”

Latest data from the City Tourism Office revealed that the total number of rooms grew by 8.86% from 598 in 2009 to 651 in 2010 with the opening of new tourist inns like E.Y. Pensionne, RSY Pensionne, among others. “Occupancy rate continued to rise with the average of 33.72 percent compared in 2009 with only 27.61 percent,” Matugas added.

Matugas said tourism sector is expected to further grow this year with the aggressive promotion of private sector investments for commercial and industrial development and with the entry of major names in business like Gaisano Capital, Citi Hardware, Unicity, and Davao Central Warehouse in the city. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

SURIGAO CITY, May 6 (PIA) – City Mayor Ernesto Matugas vowed to continue the projects started during the previous administration which proved to be beneficial to Surigaonons.

In his more than an hour State of Local Governance Report on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at the city gymnasium, Mayor Matugas said these projects which will hopefully be completed or further improved this year include the full operation of the sanitary landfill.

“We have reassigned Engr. Elmer Tecson to the City ENRO together with Engr. Alan Pacqueo and we have also transferred the waste collection functions of the General Services Offices handled by Felipe Sulapas so that a more integrated approach in waste management can now be pursued,” said Matugas.

“The full operation of the recently completed Meat Processing Laboratory at the city slaughterhouse in Brgy. Poctoy,” Matugas said.

He also vowed to continue the improvement and development of the City Boulevard and water supply systems especially in the island barangay.

Matugas also promised to continue the clean-up and beautification of the major thoroughfares, parks and playgrounds of the city. “Our focus will be the planting of trees or ornamental plants along major streets, parks, playgrounds and the City Boulevard and provision of public toilets in strategic locations just like what they have in other countries.”

Also, Matugas revealed the plan of the city government to acquire brand new heavy equipments, “to replace our dilapidated equipments and augment our in-house capability in construction, maintenance and emergency response during disasters.”

Expressing his deep gratitude to the men and women of city government of Surigao for the support and cooperation, the first State of Local Governance Report was also attended by Vice Gov. Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr, some members of the board headed by Senior Board Member Myrna Madelo-Romarate and other stakeholders. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

TANDAG CITY, May 6 (PIA) - The Land and Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) assures that only legitimate Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJ) and tricycle operators will receive fuel Subsidy under Pantawid Pasada Program.

However, Land Transportation (LTO) Director Atty. Alim Pangandaman, concurrent chair of LTFRB, clarified, fuel cards distribution in provinces will follow after the same has been started in Metro Manila.

Pangandaman also said a meeting among the regional directors in this regard yet to take place on May 18 in Visayas.

Meanwhile, Pangandaman stressed, fuel cards distribution rests primarily on the Department of Energy (DOE) while their concerns is to identify legitimate Jeepney operators. However, distribution guidelines have yet to be out.

On the side of tricycle operators, Pangandaman also made clear that Local Government Units (LGUs) concerned have to coordinate with authorities hinting it could be a tie-up with Department of Energy and Gas Stations in the area.

The program has an initial funding of P450-million, and it will be in the form of smart cards that will be distributed to the legitimate drivers or operators that recently launched already.

Legitimate drivers or operators of public utility vehicles are those with valid franchises, each containing a load of P1,050 that a driver may use in one filling or in a staggered basis for one month. For tricycle drivers or operators, they could claim their P150 assistance from their respective local government units.

On the other hand, Surigao del Sur transport groups legal counsel Atty. Gerry Maglinte said, it is high time for such fuel subsidy program to trickle down to provinces. (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA Surigao del Sur)

Caraga wage board to study granting of wage hike

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, May 6 (PIA) - The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Caraga will study the possibility of granting wage hike to workers in the private sector here.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Ofelia Domingo, who is also the concurrent RTWPB Chair here said they are going to take into consideration the prevailing and supervening condition of both the employees and the employers in the region.

Domingo in her statement was acting on the order of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to respond to wage hike petition.

However, Domingo noted, no petition has been filed yet with the board so far.

AGUSAN DEL SUR, May 6 (PIA) - The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army will be putting up checkpoints at the boundaries of Agusan del Sur – Butuan City and Agusan del Sur – Compostela Valley province because of possible terrorists attacks following the death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of US Special Forces.

This was discussed during the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting yesterday.

“We know that it is a very remote that our province will be the target of the attack, but let us not discount the possibility. Our province is a trans-path-way from Davao provinces and Butuan City and other provinces of Caraga Region therefore let us not take chances, but be vigilant and alert. May we ask now the preparation being done by our army and the police regarding the matter,” Agusan del Sur Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. said.

Aside from individual plans of the army and the police, P/SSupt. Jerome Baxinela suggested that they combine forces and establish check points in the boundaries of Agusan del Sur located in Tabon-tabon in the northern part and in Pulang Lupa in the southern part.

“Please make a proposal in writing within 72 hours, so that we can present that to Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza for approval and logistic support. I know the governor will be very supportive about that plan because his main concern is the safety of the Agusanons and for the peace and order in Agusan del Sur to be maintained,” Cane said.

P/SSupt. Baxinela also suggested that a mobile checkpoint will be established in order to conduct surprise inspection of vehicles especially those coming from Surigao del Sur.

The death of the number one terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, has stirred the whole world and heightened alert among nations who have declared war against terrorism. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)